Modern History - All lessons
Balaji Bajirao's Demise and Madhavrao's Rise (1761)
- Balaji Bajirao, the third Peshwa of the Maratha Empire, succumbed to the stress brought on by the third battle of Panipat in 1761.
- His son, Madhavrao, assumed leadership and successfully reclaimed part of the Maratha Empire's lost territory in the Battle of Panipat.
Struggle for Peshwa's Throne (Late 18th Century)
- After Madhavrao's reign, a fierce rivalry emerged for control of the Peshwa's throne within the Maratha Empire.
- Contestants included Narayan Rao and his uncle, both aspiring to become the Peshwa.
- Narayan Rao eventually became the Peshwa, while his uncle sought an alliance with the British.
British Involvement and Shifting Alliances (1775-1776)
- Raghunath Rao returned Bassein to the British after the signing of the Surat Agreement in 1775.
- Peshwa Narayan Rao clashed with the British army led by Raghunath Rao, resulting in British victory and the termination of the Warren Hastings-era pact.
- A new treaty was negotiated between the Calcutta Council and the Maratha Minister in 1776, reshaping power dynamics.
French Port Authorization and Maratha Triumph (1777-1779)
- In 1777, Nana Fadnavis authorized the establishment of a French port on the West Coast as part of an agreement with the Calcutta Council.
- The Marathas, under the leadership of Mahadji Shinde, decisively won the Battle of Vadgaon near Pune.
- British forces' diversion to Pune played a crucial role in the Maratha victory.
- The Vadgaon Agreement was forged between the British and the Indian forces after the English's defeat in 1779, marking a turning point in history.